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Master Concept Receives Okta Catalyst Award, Deepening Partnership in AI and Identity Security

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Master Concept, an enterprise AI and cloud solutions partner with operations across Asia-Pacific, has received the Okta Catalyst Award for Strategic Excellence, recognising the continued growth of its partnership with Okta and the strong performance of its identity security practice in FY26.

The award marks an important milestone in the collaboration between Master Concept and Okta, as the two companies deepen their joint efforts to help enterprises strengthen identity security across increasingly complex cloud and AI environments. It also follows Master Concept’s advancement to the next Okta partner tier.

Master Concept and Okta teams celebrate the Catalyst Award for Strategic Excellence, reinforcing their partnership in identity security and enterprise AI.
Master Concept and Okta teams celebrate the Catalyst Award for Strategic Excellence, reinforcing their partnership in identity security and enterprise AI.

As AI becomes embedded in everyday business operations, identity is becoming an increasingly important security control layer. Enterprises must not only manage who can access applications and data, but also govern how devices, workloads, applications, and emerging AI agents interact with critical business resources.

“This recognition reflects what our teams have built together with Okta over the past year, as well as the trust our customers have placed in us,” said Dennis Wong, Co-founder of Master Concept. “As enterprises accelerate cloud and AI adoption, identity security is becoming fundamental to how access, data, and AI-enabled workflows are governed. We look forward to working more closely with Okta to help customers build a secure foundation for the next stage of enterprise AI.”

Annie Sun, Regional Alliance Manager, Okta, said: “Master Concept’s growth this year is a direct reflection of the team’s dedication, technical execution, and the trust within our partnership. As we expand together into Singapore and Taiwan and deepen our combined Okta and Google Cloud initiatives, Master Concept will continue to play an important role in helping customers navigate identity security in the AI era.”

In FY27, Master Concept will further expand its Okta capabilities across Asia, while developing more integrated identity security initiatives with Okta and Google Cloud.

These initiatives will focus on helping enterprises address the security challenges created by wider AI adoption, including controlling access to AI applications, reducing unauthorised AI usage, protecting sensitive business data, and establishing appropriate identity and access policies for AI-enabled workflows and agents.

The recognition reinforces Master Concept’s broader approach to enterprise AI security: bringing together identity, cloud, browser, endpoint, data, and application controls to help organisations adopt AI securely and at scale.

Bolikhamxay Police Seize 1.3 Million Meth Pills in Six-Month Drug Crackdown

By
Phoudasack Vongsay
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a picture of 1.2 million methamphetamine pills weighing approximately 147 kilograms, the seizure took place on 5 July in Thaphabat district, Borikhamxay. (Photo by Borikhamxay Security)

Police in Bolikhamxay Province seized more than 1.3 million methamphetamine pills and arrested 162 suspects in 111 drug cases during the first six months of 2026 as authorities intensified anti-narcotics operations across the province, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Head of the province’s Public Security Headquarters Kongchan Xaypanya said the seizures included 1,311,445 methamphetamine pills, 3.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 29 grams of heroin, 120 ecstasy pills, 1,022 kilograms of dried cannabis, and 2,169 kilograms of kratom leaves. Officers also confiscated electronic cigarettes, thousands of bottles of drug-laced liquid, one methamphetamine production machine, firearms, cars, motorcycles, and other evidence.

The province’s largest drug seizure took place on 5 July in Thaphabat district.

According to Bolikhamxay police, officers identified a white pickup truck with Vientiane Capital registration plates as suspicious while monitoring routes commonly used for cross-border drug trafficking. The vehicle remained parked for several hours before heading toward a rubber plantation near the Mekong River.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle for inspection, the driver allegedly ignored police orders, fled the scene, and abandoned the pickup truck before escaping into a nearby forest.

A search of the vehicle uncovered three sacks containing 1.2 million methamphetamine pills weighing approximately 147 kilograms. Police said investigations are continuing to identify and arrest those involved in the trafficking network.

Nationwide Crackdown

The Bolikhamxay figures come as Laos continues to step up its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Speaking during the National Assembly’s ordinary session on 6 July, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said authorities handled 1,786 drug cases nationwide during the first half of 2026 and arrested 4,025 suspects.

The government also reported that 7,046 people entered drug rehabilitation centres during the same period, with 2,769 completing treatment and returning home.

Sonexay said strengthening drug law enforcement while expanding rehabilitation services remains a national priority as authorities continue efforts to reduce drug trafficking and addiction across the country.

Tencent Cloud Expands International AI Agent Suite to Indonesia to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

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Advertorial Desk
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Productivity agent WorkBuddy, creative agent Miora, and Model-as-a-Service platform TokenHub to help Indonesian enterprises leap from AI experimentation to real-world deployment

HONG KONG, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, expanded its international suite of AI agent solutions to the Indonesian market at its AI Executive Day summit held in Jakarta today.

The summit brought together more than 150 Indonesian enterprise leaders, technology executives and partners to explore how AI agent solutions can execute practical workflows in day-to-day business environments — from workplace productivity and creative production to model access and enterprise automation.


Enabling Indonesian enterprises to deploy AI Agents in real-world scenarios

Indonesian enterprises are moving fast on AI, with 57% naming it their top priority for the year ahead, and 66% planning to deepen their focus on agentic AI, according to a recent industry study[1].

Building on this momentum, Tencent Cloud introduced its suite of AI agent solutions to help enterprise teams and individual professionals automate workflows, moving beyond chatbots and content generation toward agents that plan, execute and automate multi-step tasks.

One of the key solutions unveiled is Tencent WorkBuddy, an agentic AI workspace productivity solution that turns a single instruction into a complete, ready-to-use deliverable. It is designed for office users to orchestrate agents to perform tasks like market research, data analysis and data illustration, drawing on specialized “Experts” across fields such as finance, law and marketing and more. It also enables users to integrate their large model of choice via APIs, and manage agentic workflows remotely through Discord, Slack and Telegram. Since launching in China, WorkBuddy has surpassed 8.85 million monthly active users within its first month, cementing it as one of the most widely embraced agent workplace solutions.

In addition, Tencent Cloud showcased Tencent Design Miora, an AI-native creative studio with persistent memory that helps designers, content creators and marketers maintain visual consistency across brands and campaigns. From a single natural-language brief, Miora orchestrates multiple Skills to deliver a production-ready asset pack — spanning graphics, video, 3D and UI — compressing creative cycles from weeks into hours.

As enterprises run more models and AI agents, token consumption rises quickly. In response, Tencent Cloud’s Model-as-a-Service platform, TokenHub, provides enterprises with API gateways to leading large language models, enabling businesses to aggregate multiple models and optimize for both cost and performance through centrally managed access and flexible token allocation.

Together, these offerings join Tencent Cloud’s portfolio of more than 400 solutions for overseas markets, extending secure, practical, enterprise-ready AI to customers across Indonesia.

“Indonesian enterprises are increasingly looking to move from AI experimentation to real adoption,” said Jimmy Chen, Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Vice President of APAC at Tencent Cloud International. “With agents like WorkBuddy and Miora, we help local organizations shift execution-heavy work to AI, so their teams can focus on smarter decisions and innovation. We’re committed to Indonesia for the long term, and we look forward to partnering with more enterprises here as they modernize, adopt AI with confidence, and scale globally from Indonesia.”

Supporting the growth aspirations of Indonesian enterprises across sectors

Tencent Cloud has deepened its support for digital transformation across Indonesia, working with enterprises in telecommunications, digital platforms and financial services to scale on dependable cloud foundations and adopt AI in practical ways.

Taking center stage at the summit was Tencent Cloud’s recent collaboration with XLSMART. In a panel discussion, Yessie D. Yosetya, Director and Chief Information Technology Officer of XLSMART, joined Poshu Yeung, Senior Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Head of Tencent Cloud International, to discuss the operator’s large-scale cloud transformation and the role AI played in it. Tencent Cloud supported XLSMART in modernizing its operations on Tencent Cloud’s infrastructure without disrupting the millions of people who rely on its services each day, while applying AI across the project to take on repetitive engineering effort and improve the efficiency of its digital operations.

“For a business serving tens of millions of customers, the real value of this transformation is not just a smoother platform — it is the agility to move faster, launch sooner, and keep improving without disruption,” said Yessie D. Yosetya. “With Tencent Cloud, we consolidated onto a modern cloud foundation with zero downtime and put AI to work across the project. That gives us a base to keep innovating on, and the confidence to scale for what comes next.”

Recently, Tencent Cloud has also supported GoTo, Indonesia’s largest digital ecosystem, in one of the most significant cloud migrations the region has seen, moving more than 1,000 of its on-demand services onto a more scalable, resilient foundation for its future growth.

In financial services, Tencent Cloud supports the core operations of banks such as Bank Neo Commerce with its database solutions such as TDSQL, giving them the reliability to serve millions of customers as they widen consumer access to banking. Its eKYC solutions help institutions such as BRI verify customers remotely and guard against fraud, while its content delivery network helps DANA, one of Indonesia’s leading digital wallets, deliver a fast, consistent experience across the archipelago. In addition, Tencent Cloud’s capabilities are empowering new customer experiences for Telkomsel, as it uses Tencent Cloud’s AI-powered solutions for content generation and palm-based verification processes.

Underpinning all of this is Tencent Cloud’s global infrastructure, which spans 66 availability zones across 23 markets and regions, including three in Indonesia. Tencent Cloud remains deeply committed to the Indonesian market, supporting local enterprises as they scale at home, expand globally, and put AI to work in practical, real-world ways.

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About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

[1] https://www.ey.com/en_id/newsroom/2026/04/indonesias-tech-investment-momentum-build-with-genai-and-sovereign-cloud-driven-by-security

Laos Opens New Route for Businesses to Protect Product Designs Abroad

By
Namfon Chanthavong
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Laos joins WIPO's Hague System, allowing businesses to protect product designs in over 100 countries through a single application.

From 14 October, Lao designers and businesses will be able to protect the look of their products in multiple countries through a single application submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), instead of filing separate applications in every country where they want protection.

The change works both ways. Foreign companies using WIPO’s Hague System will also be able to include Laos in the same application, making it easier to protect their product designs when doing business in the country.

Laos formally joined the system on 14 July by signing the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement. Once it takes effect in October, Laos will become the 79th member of the treaty, extending the Hague System’s reach to 102 countries.

What Does This Actually Protect?

The Hague System protects industrial designs; what a product looks like.

That could be the shape of a bottle, the pattern on a textile, the design of a chair, the packaging of a product, or even the appearance of a phone case.

Until now, a Lao company that wanted to protect the design of one product in several countries usually had to submit separate applications under different legal systems and often in different languages.

The Hague System simplifies that process. Businesses can file one application through WIPO, pay one set of fees, and request protection in multiple countries at the same time. A single application can even cover up to 100 designs within the same product category.

For Lao businesses, especially those exporting handicrafts, furniture, textiles, consumer goods, and other design-based products, the new system could reduce both costs and paperwork when protecting their designs overseas.

It could also make Laos more attractive to foreign investors and manufacturers by giving them a simpler way to secure design rights when entering the Lao market.

Part of Wider Intellectual Property Reforms

Joining the Hague System is only one part of Laos’ broader effort to modernize its intellectual property laws.

In late 2025, the government introduced a new Patent and Petty Patent Decision that updated several procedures without overhauling the entire patent system.

One of the biggest changes was that foreign applicants without a registered address in Laos must work through authorized local intellectual property agents when filing patent applications. The rules also brought the patent system into the digital age by recognising inventions that have already been disclosed in both printed publications and online sources when deciding whether an invention is genuinely new.

The reforms also allows anyone to ask the Department of Intellectual Property to carry out a patent search to check whether an invention has already been registered.

Laos has steadily expanded its participation in international intellectual property agreements over the past three decades. It joined WIPO in 1995, became a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2006, joined the Madrid System for international trademark registration in 2015, and acceded to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on geographical indications in 2020.

By joining the Hague System, Laos has added another international tool that makes it easier for businesses to protect their ideas and designs while strengthening the country’s legal framework for trade, investment, and innovation.

Xsolla and Management and Science University (MSU) Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Connect Future Game Developers With Global Commercial Opportunities

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Advertorial Desk
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Collaboration Provides Students Access To Xsolla’s Publishing Suite And Launcher, Bridging Academic Learning With Commercial Game Development Practices


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 July 2026 – Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Management and Science University (MSU), one of Malaysia’s leading private universities, to strengthen collaboration between academia and the video games industry while providing students with access to professional publishing, monetization, and distribution technologies.

(From left) Mr. Florin Ursu, Vice President of Platform Quality & Stability, Xsolla KL Sdn Bhd, Professor Puan Sr (2). Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, President & Founder, Management and Science University (MSU)
(From left) Mr. Florin Ursu, Vice President of Platform Quality & Stability, Xsolla KL Sdn Bhd, Professor Puan Sr (2). Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, President & Founder, Management and Science University (MSU)

The partnership is designed to support knowledge exchange and talent development across game development, digital commerce, and game monetization. Through industry talks, guest lectures, best-practice sharing sessions, and collaborative educational initiatives, Xsolla and MSU will work together to provide students and faculty with direct exposure to current industry practices and commercial opportunities in the global games market.

As part of the collaboration, Xsolla will facilitate access to its end-to-end game commerce ecosystem across its payments, monetization and distribution platforms. Students will be able to integrate professional-grade publishing, monetization, payment, and distribution capabilities into their projects, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and commercial game development.

“Today’s game developers need more than technical skills; they need to understand the complete business of bringing games to market,” said Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla. “Our partnership with MSU gives students access to the technologies, workflows, and commercial infrastructure used throughout the industry, helping prepare the next generation of developers to successfully launch and grow their games on a global scale.”

MSU is recognized as one of Malaysia’s leading private universities and is ranked #597 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Through strategic industry partnerships and experiential learning programs, the university continues to connect studios with real-world opportunities across Information Sciences, Engineering, Technology, and related disciplines.

In addition to educational initiatives, Xsolla will participate in selected MSU convocation activities by presenting industry awards to recognize outstanding graduates. Both organizations will continue to explore additional collaborative opportunities that support talent development, innovation, and growth within Malaysia’s interactive entertainment ecosystem.

To learn more about the MoU signing between Xsolla and Management and Science University (MSU), visit: https://xsolla.pro/MSU

Hashtag: #Xsolla #ManagementAndScienceUniversity #MSU

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Xsolla

Xsolla is a global commerce company that builds and provides all the things developers need to launch, grow, and monetize video games. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the company supports studios of every size, from indie to AAA, with solutions across direct-to-consumer commerce, intelligent payments, entertainment-based IP, and player engagement products. Xsolla helps developers fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games at scale. Trusted by more than 60% of the top 100 highest-grossing games, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record across 200+ geographies with access to over 1,000+ local payment methods worldwide. Grounded in a deep belief in the future of gaming, Xsolla is resolute in bringing opportunities together and unlocking growth for creators everywhere.

Hong Kong SMEs Accelerate Transformation as AI and Northern Metropolis Unlock New Opportunities, Dah Sing Bank Survey

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Advertorial Desk
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Capability and Resource Gaps Limit Growth Potential As Firms Explore the New Economy


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2026 – Dah Sing Bank, Limited (“Dah Sing Bank”) revealed in its latest SME Survey that Hong Kong SMEs are accelerating digital and business transformation, actively exploring opportunities arising from artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in the Northern Metropolis, and seeking new growth drivers in the evolving economic landscape.

SME Survey Results 2026

Dah Sing Bank remains committed to staying close to the needs of SMEs and understanding the challenges and directions of their business transformation journey. To gain deeper insights into these trends, the Bank commissioned a survey[1] in May 2026 through a major local media outlet, interviewing over 340 Hong Kong SMEs to understand how businesses are navigating current challenges and evolving strategies, while examining their plans and needs in areas such as AI adoption, Northern Metropolis opportunities and business upgrading.

Transformation Gains Momentum
The Survey shows that around 23% of enterprises have already adopted AI or generative AI (GenAI) in their operations, while a further 32% plan to do so within the next one to two years, indicating a growing transformation momentum. At the same time, nearly 70% of respondents believe that developments in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao-Hong Kong Science Park are relevant to their future businesses, reflecting strong interest in participating in the evolving new economy.

AI Adoption Still at an Early Stage
In terms of AI applications, SMEs are currently focusing on relatively accessible use cases such as marketing and content creation (56%) and customer service (42%), with some also applying AI in sales support (35%) and data analysis (30%).

In contrast, adoption remains limited in more advanced areas such as process automation or workflow improvement (14%), suggesting that overall AI usage among SMEs is still at an early stage and has yet to be fully integrated into core business operations.

Capability Gaps Limit Transformation
The Survey also highlights significant challenges in advancing AI adoption. Around 45% of SMEs have yet to implement AI technologies, with more than half citing a lack of relevant knowledge or skills (57%) as a key barrier. In addition, 38% pointed to unclear return on investment, while others indicated the absence of suitable use cases (29%) or insufficient time and resources to explore further (24%).

These findings suggest that gaps in capabilities, resource allocation and application planning remain major constraints on SMEs’ ability to scale up transformation initiatives.

Business Models and Talent Needs Evolve
SMEs are also advancing their digitalisation efforts, with widespread adoption of social media marketing (51%), e-commerce platforms (43%) and electronic payment solutions (50%), reflecting a shift towards more flexible, multi-channel business models.

As AI adoption gradually expands, workforce requirements are also evolving. About one-quarter of respondents indicated that AI would shift employees towards higher value-added roles, while around one in five expect increased demand for new skills and talent. This suggests a gradual transition towards more knowledge- and technology-driven operating models.

Northern Metropolis Opens New Opportunities
Regarding developments in the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao-Hong Kong Park, SMEs generally prefer to participate as service providers and supporting partners within the broader ecosystem. This includes offering specialised services or solutions to companies in the area (44%), collaborating with research institutions or technology firms (29%), and participating in pilot projects or proof-of-concept programmes (25%).

In addition, some SMEs plan to provide products and services to future residents, businesses and workers in the district (51%), or take part in construction and infrastructure-related supply chains (36%). These responses indicate that SMEs are actively identifying entry points aligned with their strengths to integrate into emerging industry ecosystems.

Dah Sing Bank Supports SMEs Transformation
To address the challenges of transformation, Dah Sing Bank recognises that SMEs not only need financial support but also practical and clear directional guidance. The Bank adopts a holistic approach, offering flexible financing solutions to meet evolving business needs, while streamlining digital banking processes and enhancing cross-border financial services to improve SMEs’ operational efficiency and agility.

In addition, Dah Sing Bank places strong emphasis on equipping SMEs with relevant market insights and practical knowledge. These initiatives include providing the latest market trends and business tips via the Bank’s online educational platform, the “SME Info Hub”. Additionally, the Bank organises tailored SME seminars through its “328 Business School” educational platform on various topics such as AI technology and digital marketing. Together, these efforts aim to help businesses deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and market developments, enabling them to navigate an increasingly dynamic economic landscape.

Dah Sing Bank Deputy Chief Executive, Senior Executive Director and Head of Group Personal Banking, Ms Phoebe Wong, said: “The Survey shows that Hong Kong SMEs are increasingly exploring AI applications and opportunities in the new economy. However, many businesses continue to face challenges in technology adoption and resource allocation. Dah Sing Bank has long been a trusted partner to SMEs on their transformation journey. Beyond providing flexible financing solutions, we are committed to offering market insights and a range of value-added services that help businesses strengthen their understanding of new technologies and market trends, equipping them with the relevant capabilities. By combining financial services with real-world support, we aim to empower SMEs to capture opportunities arising from AI and the Northern Metropolis, and to achieve sustainable growth.”

[1] The Survey was conducted through online questionnaires from May 19 to 29, 2026, interviewing 343 Hong Kong SMEs.

# # #

To borrow or not to borrow? Borrow only if you can repay!
The service(s) / product(s) mentioned in this document are not targeted at customers in the European Union.

Risk Disclosure Statement
Foreign Exchange Transactions: Foreign exchange involves risk. Currency investments are subject to exchange rate fluctuations, which may result in gains or losses. Customers converting foreign currencies into HKD or other currencies may incur losses due to exchange rate movements. Investors should read and understand all offering documents, including risk disclosures and warnings, before making any investment decisions.

Currency Risk (RMB): Conversion of RMB into HKD or other currencies is subject to exchange rate fluctuations. Customers may experience gains or losses due to RMB exchange rate movements. RMB is currently subject to exchange controls imposed by the PRC government, and its exchange rate may be affected by policy changes.

Unless otherwise specified, this promotional material does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to engage in any foreign exchange transaction, nor does it predict future exchange rate movements. This material has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission or any other regulatory authority in Hong Kong.

Hashtag: #DahSingBank

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Dah Sing Bank

Dah Sing Bank, Limited (the “Bank”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dah Sing Banking Group, Limited (HKG:2356). Founded in Hong Kong over 75 years ago, the Bank has been providing quality banking products and services to its customers with a vision to be “The Local Bank with a Personal Touch”. Over the years, the Bank has been rigorous in delivering on its brand tagline to grow with its customers in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and beyond – “Together We Progress and Prosper”. Building on our experience and solid foundation in the industry, our scope of professional services now spans retail banking, private banking, business and commercial banking. Meanwhile, the Bank is also making significant investments in its digital banking capabilities to stay abreast with smart banking developments in Hong Kong and to support financial inclusion at large.

In addition to its Hong Kong banking operations, the Bank has wholly-owned subsidiaries including Dah Sing Bank (China) Limited, Banco Comercial de Macau, S.A., and OK Finance Limited. It is also a strategic shareholder of Bank of Chongqing with a shareholding of about 13.5%. Dah Sing Bank and its subsidiaries now have 63 operating locations in Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Mainland.

A SIM Guide to Comparing Graduate Salaries and Employability in Singapore

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Advertorial Desk
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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2026 – As students and parents in Singapore evaluate higher education pathways, employability, starting salary and return on investment are increasingly important considerations. A degree is often assessed not only by academic interest, but also by how it supports entry into the workforce and future career development.

Graduate salary data provides useful guidance, but it should not be read in isolation. Starting salary is one indicator of return on investment. It should be considered alongside employment rates, full-time permanent employment, industry pathways, career support, programme fit and long-term skills relevance.

For students considering Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page provides a reference point for understanding graduate outcomes. The page explains how SIM graduates have performed in the Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey (PEI GES), where they have worked, and how SIM supports students in building career readiness.

Why the PEI Graduate Employment Survey matters
For students considering private education pathways, the PEI Graduate Employment Survey (GES) is an important reference because it provides employment and salary outcomes for graduates from registered private education institutions.

The 2024/2025 PEI GES focused on economically active fresh graduates who graduated between May 2024 and April 2025 from full-time Bachelor’s level External Degree Programmes. The survey covered about 6,150 full-time graduates across 26 private education institutions, with a response rate of 61.6 per cent, and was conducted from October 2025 to January 2026.

Among 2,600 economically active PEI fresh graduate respondents in the labour force, 78.9 per cent secured employment within six months of graduation. The median gross monthly salary for PEI fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment remained stable at S$3,500.

This makes the PEI GES useful for students and parents who want to compare graduate outcomes within the private education sector. It also allows SIM’s graduate outcome data to be read against a broader PEI sector benchmark.

What SIM graduate outcome data shows
SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page reports that SIM fresh graduate respondents recorded 81.0 per cent secured employment, 77.9 per cent currently employed, 47.0 per cent in full-time permanent employment and a median gross monthly salary of S$3,565. The page attributes these figures to Skills & Workforce Development Agency 2024/2025 PEI GES.

Indicator SIM Avg of All PEI (include SIM)
Secured employment 81.0% 78.9%
Full-time permanent employment 47.0% 46.9%
Median gross monthly salary S$3,565 S$3,500

This comparison places SIM’s graduate outcomes at the top spectrum of the PEI sector. It also shows why employability should be assessed through more than one indicator. Secured employment, full-time permanent employment and median gross monthly salary each provide a different view of graduate outcomes.

Secured employment indicates whether graduates entered work, accepted job offers or were taking steps to start a business venture. Full-time permanent employment provides a view of stable employment. Median gross monthly salary shows the middle salary point among full-time permanently employed graduates.

Where SIM graduates have worked
SIM graduates have entered a range of sectors, including aviation, aerospace and engineering, airline and tourism, banking and financial services, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, insurance, consumer services, public sector and government, consulting and professional services, healthcare, logistics, transportation, retail and manufacturing.

These employer destinations are relevant because students are not only selecting a degree. They are also considering possible pathways into industries, job functions and future career options. A business-related pathway may support roles in banking, consulting, retail, logistics or entrepreneurship. A technology-related pathway may lead to opportunities in information and communications technology, cybersecurity, data, digital services or business technology roles.

How students should compare salary, employability and ROI
A practical approach to comparing degree options is to consider four areas: relevance, return, readiness and resilience.

Factor What to consider
Relevance Does the degree connect to industries that are hiring?
Return What do employment and salary outcomes show?
Readiness What career support, internship guidance and employer exposure are available?
Resilience Can the skills support future career changes?

This approach helps students avoid selecting a degree based only on the highest salary benchmark. While starting salary is an important consideration, long-term value also depends on whether the student can build relevant skills, gain experience and adapt to changes in the labour market.

How SIM supports employability
SIM supports students through career preparation and employer engagement, including résumé writing, interview preparation, job search guidance, career fairs, employer talks, recruitment events, internship search guidance and workshops that build communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional confidence.

Such support is relevant to return on investment because employability is influenced not only by the qualification awarded, but also by how prepared students are to enter the workforce. Career readiness, employer exposure and workplace skills can support the transition from study to employment.

Conclusion
Graduate starting salary is an important consideration for students and parents assessing higher education options in Singapore. However, it should not be the only measure used to evaluate a degree pathway.

A more balanced assessment considers employment rates, full-time permanent employment, median gross monthly salary, industry pathways, career support and long-term skills relevance. This provides a broader view of how a higher education pathway may support employability and future career development.

When read together with the PEI Graduate Employment Survey, national salary benchmarks and SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page, graduate outcome data can help students and parents make more informed decisions about salary expectations, employability and return on investment.

References

  1. SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/parent-resource-hub/graduate-outcome-employability
  2. SWDA PEI Graduate Employment Survey 2024/2025 – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/skills-career-resources/private-education-resources/graduate-employment-survey/2024-2025
  3. Employment Outcome for PEI Graduates – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/newsroom/employment-outcomes-for-private-education-institution-graduates-remain-stable-in-2024-2025
  4. SIM Career Service – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/career-services

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SIM Global Education

SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.

SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.

For more information on SIM Global Education, visit

Smilegate LORDNINE Launches Pre-Registration for New Growth-Accelerated Server ‘Helena’ in Celebration of 1st Anniversary… 32,000 USDt Reward Event Underway

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Advertorial Desk
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  • Pre-registration for new server Helena opens July 14… Official launch on July 29
  • Sweeping new server growth-support systems, including 50% additional EXP via Mastery Buff
  • Rich rewards including a 32,000 USDt reward event, limited edition skins, and 1,111 summon tickets

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – EQS Newswire – 15 July 2026 – Smilegate announced on Tuesday, July 14 that pre-registration has begun for ‘Helena’, a new growth-accelerated server for the MMORPG 《LORDNINE: Infinite Class》 (developed by NX3 Games), in celebration of the game’s 1st anniversary.

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Pre-registration for the new Helena server is available through the official LORDNINE page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en), with the official launch scheduled for July 29 at 7:00 PM.

Helena is a growth-accelerated server designed to allow players to level up characters faster than on existing servers. Key features include a Mastery Buff that provides an additional 50% EXP gain and more than 40,000 ‘Fragments of Ancient Relics’ to support character progression, helping players settle in smoothly during the early stages.

To celebrate the launch of the Helena server, Smilegate has prepared a variety of events, including a 32,000 USDt reward event. Helena server users can participate in in-game attendance and mission events to obtain three Hero-grade avatars and three artifacts, as well as up to 1,111 summon tickets.

A pre-registration event will also be held. Users who sign up for pre-registration will receive a limited edition skin, and among users who refer 20 friends through the pre-registration page, a drawing will be held with winners receiving an iPhone 17 Pro.

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In addition, a skin design contest will be held to celebrate the 1st anniversary. Participants can freely submit skin designs they would like to see released in LORDNINE. In-game rewards worth up to 80 million KRW are up for grabs, and notably, the grand prize-winning design will actually be released in-game.

For more information about the game, please visit the official page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en).

Contact Point Office Mobile Phone Email
Sangjik Oh, Team Leader 031-630-3142 010-5236-0571 sjikoh@smilegate.com
Hyeran In, Deputy General Manager 031-630-3143 010-3291-6710 hranin@smilegate.com
Jiwon Hong, Deputy General Manager 031-630-3144 010-4135-0298 jwhong@smilegate.com
Taehyun Park, Assistant Manager 031-630-3179 010-6805-1177 thpark@smilegate.com

Hashtag: #Smilegate

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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